Untitled [nude in dark stockings with her left arm raised] 1955 - 1967

Richard Diebenkorn made this ink on paper work, Untitled (nude in dark stockings with her left arm raised). In the mid-20th century, artists like Diebenkorn were navigating a changing landscape of representation. This drawing invites us to consider the power dynamics inherent in the act of depicting the female body. The dark stockings create a tension between exposure and concealment, suggesting the complexities of desire and objectification. How does the artist’s choice of medium, the stark black ink, influence our perception of the figure? What does it mean to see a body rendered in such a raw and immediate way? Diebenkorn invites us to confront the male gaze, and to question the ways in which women have historically been portrayed in art. This drawing doesn't offer a traditional representation, and presents an alternative narrative, focusing on the emotional and personal dimensions of the piece.